Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
In a steam iron having a water tank, steam generating soleplate, a guided water valve movable between an on/off positon to direct water to the soleplate for steam generation, and a dumper valve in the tank bottom operable to suddenly empty the tank onto the soleplate to purge and clean the iron, the improvement in said dumper valve comprising, a unitary assembly including, a flat smoothly continuous tubular member fixedly disposed with its upper end connected to the bottom of said tank and extending with its lower end towards the soleplate, a second concentric smoothly continuous tubular member telescopically disposed in frictional fixed engagement with said first member to lock the two together, radial inwardly directed flange means at one end of each of said tubular members and at opposite ends from each other, said flanges defining reduced openings at the tubular upper and lower ends, a vertically movable valve disc spanning the upper opening below its flange and peripherally spaced from said second tubular member, and spring means disposed against the lower flange and against said valve disc biasing said disc closed, whereby the dumper valve structure is an entire assembled subunit fixedly locked in the tank bottom with said disc movable to permit only straight flow through said tubular members to suddenly empty the iron.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a steam iron having a water tank, steam generating soleplate, a guided water valve movable between an on/off positon to direct water to the soleplate for steam generation, and a dumper valve in the tank bottom operable to suddenly empty the tank onto the soleplate to purge and clean the iron, the improvement in said dumper valve comprising, a unitary assembly including, a flat smoothly continuous tubular member fixedly disposed with its upper end connected to the bottom of said tank and extending with its lower end towards the soleplate, a second concentric smoothly continuous tubular member telescopically disposed in frictional fixed engagement with said first member to lock the two together, radial inwardly directed flange means at one end of each of said tubular members and at opposite ends from each other, said flanges defining reduced openings at the tubular upper and lower ends, a vertically movable valve disc spanning the upper opening below its flange and peripherally spaced from said second tubular member, and spring means disposed against the lower flange and against said valve disc biasing said disc closed, whereby the dumper valve structure is an entire assembled subunit fixedly locked in the tank bottom with said disc movable to permit only straight flow through said tubular members to suddenly empty the iron.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said first tubular member has a strut-supported central base extending from its respective flange at the lower end thereof and said second tubular member has its respective flange at its upper end to define said upper opening, and said spring being disposed on the central base to bias said disc closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said valve disc has resilient means secured to the upper surface thereof to form a watertight seal with the flange of said second tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said first tubular member has axially spaced outwardly extending flange means spanning said tank bottom at the top and bottom thereof fixedly locating and locking said unitary subunit assembly in said tank bottom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the top outwardly extending flange comprises spaced peripheral tabs, cam means on the upper surface of the tank bottom, whereby the complete subunit is rotated into the tank bottom with said tabs and cam pulling the bottom outward flange against the tank bottom to lock the subunit fixedly therein.